The Miami Dolphins are who we thought they were, and they showed it on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. The Dolphins looked like a young team, making rookie mistakes, throughout their Week 2 contest, and the game quickly got out of hand.
The Dolphins looked better in the first half this week than they did at any point last week against the Las Vegas Raiders. The offense focused on running back De’Von Achane, and it worked. They could not finish, however, and had to settle for two first-half field goals.
The defense struggled to stop the 49ers, in large part because they are young players trying to get up to the NFL speed. The Dolphins do not have the proven talent on defense right now and the 49ers, a potential NFC representative in the Super Bowl, outclassed Miami throughout the game.
The second half quickly turned ugly, with the 49ers putting up 21 points in the third quarter. Miami could not answer.
The second-half highlight was a beautiful go-route from wide receiver Ryan Miller down the sideline late in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Malik Willis found him for the 77-yard touchdown.
The Dolphins’ struggles are real this year. Butevery mistake is a learning opportunity, and. hopefully they are turning those opportunities into corrections and growth.
Final score
Dolphins 13 – 35 49ers
Week 2 Immediate Winner: De’Von Achane
Week 2 Immediate Loser: Special Teams
Immediate reactions
Focus on De’Von Achane
The first half cemented a major change from last week. At the end of the team’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Pro Bowl running back had 15 total touches, 11 carries and four receptions. In the first half today, Achane had rushed 14 times with three receptions. Miami’s offense needs to run through Achane, and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik seemed to make an adjustment to his play calling to make sure it did this week.
Even as the game got out of hand in the second half, Miami stuck to making sure Achane got the ball. He finished with 20 carries for 74 yards and three receptions for 19 yards. He was targeted six times in the passing game.
Achane gets the nod as the immediate reaction winner for this week.
Special teams continue to be everything except special
I do not even know how to describe the craziness that is Miami’s special teams through two games this year. Last week it was a return fest for the Raiders. This week, it is just dumb mistakes.
When your punter drops the ball – not misses a kick, not has a bad snap he has to field, just drops the ball as he steps into the kick – there is a problem. Bradley Pinion worried me in the summer with his inconsistent punts, but this takes it to a different level. You cannot be dropping the ball. It is inexcusable.
Add in a missed 51-yard field goal, and special teams continue to be everything except special.
Miami has to do something to shore up the special teams. Growing pains on defense are expected, but special teams can’t add pressure on defense when they cannot execute something as simple as holding onto the ball before a punt.
The special teams take the losers spot this week and continue to be a major concern heading into Week 3.
Dolphins’ heart
The Dolphins’ have heart. They are professionals and they are laying it out on the field. They do not give up. They do not quit. They do not head to the sideline and take themselves out of a game just because it is not going their way. They continue to compete, even when the game is out of hand, and that mentality is important in a year that is more about the future than it is about the now.
This team’s heart is unquestionable. They are physical. They are going to hit you. They are going to get back up whenever you knock them down. And they are going to keep doing everything they can to compete. The team is not the most talented in the league. They are not going to make a surprising run into the playoffs. But they are going to make you remember you played them.
Pass rush makes cameo
The Dolphins’ pass rush, non-existent last week, at least made a cameo this week. They did not routinely get to 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy or create a constant sense of pressure, but they at least made a few appearances. A couple of times during the game, someone was at least near Purdy.
Zero sacks is not acceptable, but, without Chop Robinson, the pass rush at least started to show up a few times.
Pass coverage still a work in progress
The Dolphins’ secondary has been a major point of concern throughout the summer and into the start of the season. Today’s game did nothing to alleviate those concerns. The 49ers picked apart Miami’s pass coverage seemingly at will.
A major part of the issues is simply the young roster Miami is putting on the field each week. Repeatedly, multiple players would follow one receiver, leaving someone else open. That is going to be a problem when you are relying on multiple rookies and players who still need development time.
